meteorite comes crashing to earth hurting over 400 people we've got the breaking details. the ship has come in and the stranded passengers on board the carnival triumph are finally on land. for the first time in history, a blocked candidate nominee. zblies senator has a billion-dollar gambling problem. all that, plus president obama takes a closer look at children's ed. speaker john boehner and a promise of a new life. "early today" starts right now. >> announcer: this is "early today" for friday, february 15th, 2013.

good morning. i'm mara schiavocampo. danger from space today. a falling meteorite. in russia the trail was seen streaking across the sky about 900 miles east of the moscow. the interior ministry said about 400 people were injured as meteorite fragments caused explosions in buildings. most of the injuries were caused by broken glass. a local official said the meterier shower may be connected to an asteroid passing today. and that close encounter with the asteroid happened today in the u.s. the asteroid called 2012 da2014 will zoom pass us. the closest in more than a century. it poses no danger to us but if it fell toth it could explode with the force of an atomic bomb.

a day's onward deal has finally come to an end for people on board the cruise ship triumph. nbc's mark porter is in mobile where he watched the ship come in. mark, what you have been hearing from passengers coming off that ship? >> reporter: well, they've been moving them out. you can see that the triumph is behind me now. thing, relatively quiet here except for the trains that you can hear but a few hours earlier, things were very busy here. the ship docked about 10:15 eastern time. it took about an hour to bring it fully to the dock. the ceo of carnival went aboard to apologize to everyone. it took several hours to get them right off. some came right out here in mobile they were greeted with relatives who took them to area hotels or drove them away. others got aboard buses that took them to new orleans or galveston. 1500 hotel rooms were set aside

for passengers. those who chose to go to galveston took that overnight trip, in fact, they're still heading there. when we talked to the paemgs who came off the ship. they said that the worst time was right after the fire where they didn't know what was going on. they didn't know if they were safe. they said the living conditions and sanitary conditions got progressively worse and it became unbearable on the ship. they said the crew members were great. they treated them very well. as for the ship. it will be moved out to be evaluated and an investigation is under way to examine exactly what happened to cause that fire. >> mark potter live in mobile, alabama. thanks for that. the white house said it's a move that aplay politics with the pentagon. senate republicans blocking at least temporarily the nomination of chuck hagel to be secretary of defense. the motion to move toward a final vote failed 58-40. it's the first time a defense

secretary has needed to clear 60 votes. the move is likely to further strain partisan tensions less than a month into president obama's second term. my expectation and hope is that chuck hagel who richly deserves to get a vote on the floor of the senate will be confirmed as our defense secretary. it's just unfortunate that this kind of politics intrudes at a time when i'm still presiding over a war in afghanistan. >> there's still questions outstanding. i believe that senators have the right to have those questions answered. >> some senators say they want to examine information regarding the u.s. consulate attack in benghazi. majority leader harry reid plans to bring up the matter when congress plans to recess later this month. during a live google hangout chat president obama defended his position on the war on terror insisting everything he's

done is legal. but he admitted the public should know about how the program works. >> what i think is absolutely true is that it is not sufficient for citizens to just take my word for it that we're doing the right thing. >> a classified memo recently revealed u.s. citizens suspected of terrorism has been targeted of drone strikes. when asked if the u.s. could target an american on american soil, the president said no. today, a bail hearing for oscar pistorius, the olympic winner and double amputee. the 26-year-old arrived just hours after his arrest. he fatally shot his model girlfriend reeva steenkamp who was struck four times. no word on bail but prosecutors are to request that he stay behind bars. police have given few details about the case other than to they steenkamp died of multiple

bullet shot wounds. earlier reports said she may have been mistaken as a burglar. the mayor of san diego. maureen owe con embezzled the money set up by her late husband, the found of jack in the box restaurants. the 60-year-old gambled more than $60 billion. >> with a look at the weather, bill karins is here. >> that meteorite thing is crazy, isn't it? >> yes. good morning, everyone, we had some rain in florida to talk about then changes for the upcome holiday weekend. we're getting soaked in the sunshine state. in fact, a pretty dry winter. that's usually when florida is during its dry period. a welcome rainfall for the most part. especially with the drought conditions. we'll take whatever we can get. we're watching the keys, down

through miami, on organized band from sarasota to the melbourne area. cold air invading from the north. 11 in minneapolis. there's the first shot of the cold air that's going to move through the earn half of the weekend. by saturday, the weather will plunge all the way down into the carolinas and georgia. it will be an ocean storm to be just close enough to get snow for new england. especially in areas closer to the coast. we're talking from boston, up into maine, portions of new hampshire, also down into cape cod for that snow. as far as what we're dealing with accumulations, nothing huge but an order of three to six inches here in hartford, northward. the rest of the country, it's a quiet day in the midwest with just cold air around chicago. that's a look at your national forecast. now here's a look at the weather outside your window. washington, d.c., that chance of showers is very late today, most likely after 4:00 p.m.

it will be mild on the eastern seaboard ahead of the cold shot of air. enjoy that 56 today. indianapolis, your cold air arrives today. so again, it looks like snow for new england on saturday. not blockbuster but should be enough that you'll have to shovel. well, wall street was feeling the love on valentine's day to the tune of $40 billion. the big apple may get sweet for pot smokers. plus, an angry mob protests the wedding of a woman convicted of killing her twin sister. incredible story in two minutes.

welcome back. remains found in the charred cabin identified as christopher dorner. it was back to school for president obama wednesday. the president was in georgia touting his early childhood education practice. he was quite a hit with kids.

a new policy in new york for people caught with small amounts of marijuana. beginning next month, people will be given that instead of spending a night in jail snat senators have passed that. and in oregon the same-sex spouse of a military service member will be buried at a national cemetery. it's believed to be the third case of its kind and will take place at willa met national cemetery. probably the most bizarre wedding of this valentine's day. a woman in argentina marries a man convicted of killing her twin sister. edeath's identical sister was shot and killed. and her boyfriend was convicted and serving a 13-year prison sentence. who said chewing gum in class would never get you anywhery one artist is making the most of that talent. le she uses the sticky stuff to make portraits of celebrities

like elton john and steve jobs. the gum is first chewed and separated into different colors and heated in a microwave. researchers at a florida clinic are using one of the most poisonous animal for cancer survivors. they're using the poisons from the puffer fish. one woman said she's pain-free after receiving the injections. unfortunately, the drug is years away from being approved. >> announcer: "early today" health is brought to you by vagisil cream. over on wall street it may not be smooth sailing for carnival as the crippled triumph was towed to shore. after 0 hours, cbs' stock slipped. on the upside, u.p.s. got a boost after increasing its dif send by a nickel per share. the week's wheeling and dealing continue to roll high as the

iconic ketchup brand sold to warren buffett. shares of grupo modello were higher. federal regulators are worried about lack of competition in the beer market. and airbus is scrapping the same lithium batteries in its new a-50s. tiffany and company filed a lawsuit claiming it falsely sold under the tiffeny name. >> and walmart pulled a product from its shelves. women have made huge strives in the workforce. women made only 81% as their male counterparts last year. and it was a very happy valentine for dave and nancy honeywell of fredericksburg,

virginia. the lucky company collected $217 million from the powerball jackpot as a one-time payment of $136 million. the odds of that win, 1 in 175 million. straight ahead, kangaroos take over a golf tournament. and lebron hands the cavs a big one. you're watching "early today."

welcome back. now to some other stories that caught our eye this morning. we start in connecticut where thousands came out to rally for gun control. marchers for change coincided with the two-month anniversary of the sandy hook tragedy. governor dannel malloy and sandra soto sister of victoria soto spoke at the rally. in massachusetts quick on the draw. a clerk armed himself with a sword. the eight-inch knife was no match for the impress of three-foot blade and the robber made a hasty retreat. in wichita, an unusual rescue saved her life. a woman found herself trapped in a garbage truck after nighttime dumpster diving. it was her sister who ran to the truck in the nick of time keeping the girl from being crushed. rescue crews managed to pull the woman to safety. down to orlando where a tractor trailer left one interstate covered in mashed

potatoes. the truck crashed on its way to deliver a load of sweet potatoes to a grocery store. finally in san diego, seaworld welcomed the new bundle of joy on valentine's day. the mark released video of a killer whale giving birth to a more than 300-pound calf before coming up for air and taking its mom's place at its side. a miracle of life. overtime in college basketball, minnesota got a three-point from dre holland to take the lead over wisconsin. the golden gophers got the upset victory 58-53. deshaun thomas give the buckeyes the lead and topped all scorers with 22 points. ohio state defeating northwestern 69-59. just before the all-star break in the nba, a rematch of last year's finals. miami against oklahoma city. and lebron james scored in 39 points as the heat pounded the thunder.

110-100. golf underdown as kangaroos race across the course. jumped out at the lead at the woman's open. olivia cove made incredible putts. she's also the youngest player to win on the lpga tour. and the daytona 500 on february 24th will feature a car dedicated to the 26 victims of the shootings at sandy hook elementary school in connecticut. the number 26 car driven by two-time daytona 500 winner michael waltrip also calls on fans to text donations to the newtown school support fund. just ahead, seth is showered in bling. plus, is bruce willis' nine lives just about up in the latest installment of the "die hard" franchise? you're watching "early today."

welcome back. let me take you through the weekend forecast. we start today with rainy weather in florida. the big story is the cold air coming down from the north. the latest arctic flash heading down from the northern plains. minnesota and wisconsin. notice highs in wisconsin only 27. as we go through the weekend, a little storm is developing over the north carolina coast. we should see a little period of snow late tonight into tomorrow. new england with a couple inches of snow up. there by sunday that snow is gone we actually start to warm up quickly. the arctic air is only with us two days in the middle of the country. well, there's something for everybody at the box office this weekend. the fifth installment in the

"die hard" franchise should rake in the most cash despite terrible reviews. nicholas spark's safe haven will be that. and beautiful creatures with scenes aimed solely at the "twilight" crowd. maggie smith one of the stars of "downton abbey" has admitted she's never seen the show. though smith said she may some day end up watching the show. new york fashion week goes head to head with big celebs. jessica chaft tine and olivia wild study the styles coming down. and michael douglas even enjoyed seeing some of the fashion shows. and with the oscars just over a week away, actresses are busy getting their gowns ready for the big night. this year's host seth macfarlane has picked out his attire. two gucci tuxedos. and apparently he's been courted from jewelers all over the world

begging him to wear his tie clip. i actually wish somebody would beg me to take their jewelry. >> a million-dollar necklace. with seth macfarlane, this is so interesting for him. this next one comes from orlando florida. where one little piggy made it ohm. chris p. bacon. get it -- i didn't name him. instead, one veterinarian fashioneded a wheelchair for the little guy made out of his son's toys. chris may outgrow his ride but the internet has not outgrown the love for the bacon viral video. >> i'm mara schiavocampo, and this is "early today," just your first stop of the day today on your nbc station. [ anouncer ] ihop is in time square to compare

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a cool but dry start to your morning. winter weather is on the horizon. the impact it will have on your weekend in a few minutes. dramatic frightening video coming from russia at this hour. after a pretty spectacular meteor shower leaves hundreds hurt. i'm aaron gilchrist. i'm eun yang. welcome to "news4 today" on this friday, february 15th. a woman charged with burglarizing the same home.

marie johnson is charged with burglary for a november break inat the home of elmer roar he is. he was found dead wednesday night and police ruled it a homicide. johnson, however, has not been charged in connection with that crime. friends still cannot believe anyone would want to hurt him. >> he was sweet. he was so funny. he was an elderly man. >> police are searching for a weapon or sign of another break-in that may have happened before his death. the shooting of a police trainee in baltimore county. the instructor who shot him may have been fooling around when it happened. it happened during a training exercise at the rosewood center in owings mills. the instructor jokingly pointed a gun at the trainees who were looking into a window from the other room. the instructor is suspended w